Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna vs. Dodge Grand Caravan
Getting a great family minivan can make daily tasks a lot easier, but it can be hard to choose between all the brands.
With the many similarities between the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Dodge Grand Caravan, it can be difficult to pick between the three, but this breakdown of the biggest differences may help you choose the best van for you.
Price
Price is the first thing most people consider when looking for a new vehicle. In this case, the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan is the least expensive on this list with a starting MSRP of $26,0250, which is much cheaper than its contenders. The 2019 Honda Odyssey has a starting MSRP of $30,090, and the 2019 Toyota Sienna starts at $31,115.
The Toyota Sienna also has an option for you to upgrade to all-wheel drive on many models, the only minivan available with all-wheel-drive in North America. This impacts your gas mileage and increases the price substantially. The estimated fuel economy drops to 18 mpg in the city, and 24 mpg on the highway and the MSRP starts at $36,475. However, all-wheel drive gives you more control in snowy weather.
Fuel Economy
Getting high gas mileage is important while you’re driving your family around town, and the minivan with the highest fuel economy is the 2019 Honda Odyssey, though just barely. This van gets an estimated 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
The other two contenders are similar but offer slightly lower fuel economy. The 2019 Toyota Sienna has an estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway (or lower if you choose to have all-wheel-drive). The 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan has the lowest of the three with 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
Technology Options
The Honda Odyssey has the best technology of all three minivans. The in-car entertainment includes seven speakers with one subwoofer, 160-watt stereo output, USB ports, and auxiliary audio. It also comes with a rearview camera, auto up-down power windows, and Bluetooth connectivity. All of which come standard. The Toyota Sienna offers a ten-speaker configuration as part of an optional package on the more expensive SE model.
The Dodge Grand Caravan only offers a total of six speakers for its audio output. However, both the Sienna and the Grand Caravan also have a standard backup camera on all trim levels like the Odyssey. Both the Grand Caravan and the Odyssey do offer remote start on higher trim levels. That feature seems to be missing as an option on the Toyota Sienna.
Warranty
Vehicles are expensive, so you should find one with a good warranty to protect your investment. Warranty wise, the Dodge Grand Caravan has the best option. The basic warranty is the same across the board for each van because all manufacturers provide for three years or 36,000 miles. The drivetrain warranty is also the same at five years or 60,000 miles. The Grand Caravan is a better option because of the five year/100,000 roadside and rust warranty. If you live in a sunny area or near the beach, a corrosion warranty is essential.
However, the Sienna is a contender and gives Dodge a run for its money because Toyota has a two year/25,000-mile free maintenance warranty for its minivan. This can arguably be more important if rust isn’t a concern for you. Finally, the Odyssey offers a three-year/36,000-mile roadside warranty in addition to the basic and drivetrain plans.
Space and Seating
All three minivans have a foldable third row of seating for more space. The Honda and the Toyota have a removable middle row for additional room. Dodge’s Grand Caravan has second-row seats that fold directly into the floor for added convenience. Despite this, the amount of room in each minivan isn’t drastically different. The Sienna has the most space with 150 cubic feet of space with the Odyssey having the next most space at 144.9 cubic feet of room. Finally, the Grand Caravan has the least at 140 cubic feet.
Safety
Between the minivans, the 2019 Honda Odyssey and the 2019 Toyota Sienna have the better ratings. The Odyssey has a five-star rating of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are still pending for the 2019 model year. In 2018, the Odyssey was a top safety pic for that organization. The 2019 model is expected to follow. Ratings from both organizations for the 2019 Toyota Sienna are also still pending, however, it received high overall marks for 2018.
Finally, the 2018 Grand Caravan has the worst crash test rating of the three with a four-star rating with the NHTSA because of a lower frontal barrier crash test rating. Additionally, it scored lower with the IIHS because of the “poor” small overlap front driver test results.
